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A comprehensive account of London's celebrated East End killer, revised and updated. The murders in London between 1888-91 attributed to Jack the Ripper constitute one of the most mysterious unsolved criminal cases. This story is the result of many years meticulous research. The author reassesses all the evidence and challenges everything we thought we knew about the Victorian serial killer and the vanished East End he terrorized.

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Editorial Reviews

A comprehensive account of London's celebrated East End killer, revised and updated. The murders in London between 1888-91 attributed to Jack the Ripper constitute one of the most mysterious unsolved criminal cases. This story is the result of many years meticulous research. The author reassesses all the evidence and challenges everything we thought we knew about the Victorian serial killer and the vanished East End he terrorized.

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I have long been curious about this most notorious series of murders, and have read a number of books on the subject, presenting theories ranging from plausible to preposterous. Philip Sugden's work is exceedingly well-researched, and successfully refutes a number of long-held myths about the unfortunate victims as well as the perpetrator. He strongly suggests that there were one or two other Ripper victims in addition to the five historically credited to the fiend, and details credible evidence in that regard. He presents a list of the likely suspects, and discusses the pros and cons of each being the Ripper, though he avoids arriving at a conclusion as to his identity. That identity will probably never be established, but Sugden's work takes the reader a long way on that quest, and it's a riveting read!

The only JTR study worthy of the title. Sugden enhances his credibility by using only proven sources and not putting forth any favorite theory for which many writers have bent the facts to conform and, in some cases, outright lied, no doubt to sell some books. This book is a highly detailed and informative study of the JTR murders as well as Victorian London. However, be warned. Although there are a large number of suspects, there is not one scintilla of direct evidence tying anyone to the crimes. None. Nada. Squat. They can't even agree on the number of victims! Among the 'canonical' five, there is even dispute that Long Liz Stride (#3) was a JTR victim. And then some want to add on a few more whose murders only remotely resemble Jack's. What makes the Ripper Murders so enduring is that he was never caught and they never really had any clue as to who he was. Therefore, don't expect any revelations in that direction because they simply aren't there and be careful of other books containing 'solutions' such as the two British cops pinning it on an American named Tumblety without any direct evidence as well as the howler about JTR's diary which was utterly faked. Lately, there's even a new book relating JTR to Dracula! Sugden is very interesting if you want the facts but be prepared for a very long and detailed read. I've read it a number of times in order to absorb everything and get the updated information. The Kindle version makes it a lot easier to read. Just the facts is what it delivers without the BS - thankfully.

First let me state the categories of people who should (please note the emphasis) study (not 'read') this book: -1. Anybody who is interested in the any or all of the following: the Whitechappel killings, the subsequent frenzy, investigation into the murders, armchair investigations by "Mycroft" wannabes, and the literally literary withchhunt being carried out over the past century & more to "unmask" the killer;2. Anybody who is interested in understanding the socio-economic dynamics of the world's largest, richest, proudest and yet ruthlessly exploitative (of its own citizens, esp. the young and the women) city at that point of time when the nails were finally being hammered into the coffin of the 19th Century that had experienced the pinnacle of British glory;3. Anybody who, after being overfed on the serial killers (Hannibal et.al) produced by the "hot" American novelists, actually wishes to know how it is like to be chasing a black cat in an enormous dark cavern while blindfolded;4. Anybody who actually thinks that "the truth" might have been out there at some stage, but even with a centuries old "cold" case something can be done (unlike some trashy attempt sub-titled: "CASE CLOSED").

This book is not only accurate and free from all the popular & obscure misconceptions, it is also a living proof that history can be made more attactive than fiction while staying rigorously free from falsehoods. Recommended to everybody belonging to the afore-mentioned 4 categories as well as to all who, after reading some new adventure pitting Sherlock Holmes against Jack the Ripper, start pondering over "what if.."-s.

This is the essential read if you're interested in the absolute facts behind Jack the Ripper. The author doesn't give in to any mania or sensationalism about trying to put a name to the killer nor has a compulsion to believe one story more than another simply because it's more lurid. It's clear Mr. Sugden has delved deeper than most into the murk that surrounds the Whitechapel murders and yet has somehow kept his own sanity intact regarding what is the truth and what was created and misinterpreted by previous Ripperologists. The book is dense. Each page is a wall of text filled with detail and facts, but it's nonetheless fascinating.